What is the primary use of flow variables in Power Automate?

Flow variables in Power Automate are primarily used to store data that can be utilized in later actions within the same flow. This allows users to maintain state and manage data across different steps of the automation process. For instance, a variable can hold a value that's calculated or retrieved at one point in the flow and then be referenced or modified as needed in subsequent actions. This capability is essential for creating dynamic and flexible flows that can adapt to varying conditions and input data.

Using variables enhances the flow's efficiency and readability, enabling developers to craft sophisticated workflows without repetitive or hard-coded data references. Thus, they can streamline processes by managing values that change based on the flow's logic or external inputs.

While sharing data between different flows, deleting unnecessary data, and tracking execution times may all have their roles in broader workflow management, they do not represent the primary purpose of flow variables, which is distinctly focused on storing and managing data within the lifecycle of a single flow.